Chalfonte Exhibit at the Carriage House Gallery Cape May

Chalfonte Hero thrills visitors

Chalfonte Hotel by Walker Evans

Cape May’s Chalfonte Hotel has been hosting guests for 137 years. And, Karen Fox has documented its fascinating history in her book and in this season’s show at the Carriage House Gallery at the Emlen Physick Estate. Henry Sawyer built the hotel – and his story is unforgettable. He was captured by the confederacy and held in the infamous Libby Prison in Richmond Virginia. He was condemned to die by chance in the cruel “Lottery of Death”, but his wife Harriet would not let that happen. She got to President Lincoln through Secretary of War, Stanton, and Lincoln ordered Henry Sawyer and two other prisoners exchanged for Robert E, Lee’s son plus two others. Harriet saved her beloved Henry, and Cape May got back its Civil War hero and hotelier.

The exhibit opens today, April 26th, and will run through the whole summer.